---
title: Tumna Gold Beads
author: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4282/tumna-gold-beads/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2024-10-03
---
# Tumna Gold Beads
_Authored by [Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/OsamaSMAmin/)_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/4282.jpg)
## Image Caption
Hollow [gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/) balls, found at Tumna, Co. Roscommon, [Ireland](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Ireland/), in 1843, dating to the Late [Bronze Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Bronze_Age/).
National Museum of Ireland-[Archaeology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Archaeology/), Dublin.
Eleven balls are said to have been found when a group of men were tilling land near Tumna church. Each ball is made in 2 sections, which are soldered together. They are perforated, which suggests that they were intended to be strung together. The graduated size of the balls also suggests that they were strung as beads in a necklace. After their discovery, it seems that they were divided amongst various collectors. Gradually, over a period of 150 years, 9 of the original 11 were acquired by the Irish Royal Academy and the National Museum of Ireland. One is in the collections of the British Museum in London, but the whereabouts of the one remaining ball are unknown.
#### Editorial Review
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## About the Author
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.
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## Cite This Work
### APA
Amin, O. S. M. (2015, December 18). Tumna Gold Beads. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Tumna Gold Beads." *World History Encyclopedia*, December 18, 2015. .
### MLA
Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Tumna Gold Beads." *World History Encyclopedia*, 18 Dec 2015, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/OsamaSMAmin/ "User Page: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin"), published on 18 December 2015. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.